Chapter 423 - 422: Grand Opening Of The Dungeon (part 1)

His figure slowly descended onto an ancient stone road.

The moment his feet touched the ground...

A cloud of dust rose into the air.

The silence was absolute.

Not even the wind dared disturb this forgotten place.

He walked slowly through the deserted streets.

Collapsed buildings surrounded him on every side.

Ancient inscriptions covered countless walls, though time had weathered them beyond recognition.

Occasionally...

His perception detected the presence of dormant monsters hidden beneath the ruins.

Yet none dared approach him.

It was as though they instinctively recognized the overwhelming danger he represented.

Several minutes later...

Alix stopped before an enormous structure near the center of the city.

Unlike the surrounding buildings. This one remained remarkably intact.

Its massive bronze doors had long since collapsed, leaving the entrance completely exposed.

He stepped inside.

The interior resembled an enormous hall.

Rows of broken stone columns stretched toward the ceiling.

Ancient murals covered the walls.

Although faded by time, they still depicted scenes of horned beings waging war against countless terrifying creatures.

Alix briefly glanced at them before continuing deeper inside.

Soon, he arrived at what appeared to be an ancient armory.

Weapon racks still stood in orderly rows. Many had already rotted away.

Others had collapsed entirely.

Yet surprisingly, several weapons remained untouched by time.

A black greatsword rested upon a stone pedestal.

Nearby stood a crimson spear whose blade still radiated a faint spiritual aura.

Several bows, daggers, shields, and suits of armor remained neatly arranged as though someone had placed them there only yesterday.

Alix picked up the greatsword.

A wave of spiritual energy flowed through the weapon.

"...Tier 4 and Tier 5."

He placed it back before examining the others.

The spear... Tier 5.

The shield... Tier 4.

The armor... Tier 4.

Even several rings and necklaces stored inside ancient treasure chests emitted the aura of Tier 5 artifacts.

Although none of these treasures were particularly valuable to Alix anymore...

His eyes nevertheless brightened.

To him, these were ordinary. To everyone else, they were priceless.

If future explorers could discover even a fraction of these ruins...

They would undoubtedly leave with treasures capable of changing their destinies.

A faint smile appeared on Alix’s face.

"So..."

"The dungeon doesn’t only produce monsters."

"It also contains ancient ruins."

"This greatly increases its value."

He slowly looked toward the silent city surrounding the armory.

This was merely one ruin.

If an entire city existed inside the dungeon...

Then there was no telling how many similar locations remained hidden throughout this vast world.

Each one could contain treasures.

Ancient inheritances.

Cultivation techniques.

Weapons.

Artifacts.

Or secrets buried by time itself.

Alix slowly walked back outside.

Standing atop the broad staircase, he overlooked the forgotten city.

An idea gradually formed within his mind.

A smile slowly spread across his face.

"Once news of this dungeon spreads..."

"Every expert within this kingdom will come."

He turned his gaze toward the distant entrance of the dungeon, as though he could already see the bustling future beyond it.

"Not just monsters."

"Human mercenaries."

"Adventurers."

"Treasure hunters."

"Independent experts."

"They’ll all gather in the capital."

It would naturally become the first destination for anyone wishing to explore this place.

People would need inns, and Everything an explorer required. Trade would flourish.

A satisfied smile lingered on Alix’s face for a brief moment.

Then, without taking another treasure from the ruins, he turned around.

There was no need to continue exploring today.

He had already obtained the information he needed.

The dungeon alone was worth more than several kingdoms combined.

With one final glance at the crimson sky, Alix stepped back toward the place where he had first entered this strange world.

The scenery around him rapidly blurred.

Space rippled like the surface of a lake.

The crimson wasteland disappeared from his sight.

A moment later...

His vision returned to normal.

He once again stood before the massive crack in space at the center of the battlefield.

The moment Alix stepped out of the spatial gateway, the familiar air of the Pharanthia Continent greeted him once more.

Behind him, the crack in space continued to ripple silently, its silver edges shimmering like the surface of disturbed water.

Vordon, who had remained standing guard the entire time, immediately approached.

"My Lord."

Alix gave a slight nod.

"The dungeon is genuine."

"It contains an entirely separate world."

"There are monsters, ancient ruins, and a considerable amount of resources."

The beastman’s eyes widened ever so slightly.

Although he had never doubted his king’s words, hearing that such opportunities truly existed within the dungeon still filled him with anticipation.

Alix turned toward the enormous crater surrounding the entrance.

"The plans remain unchanged."

"We will build here."

Vordon immediately struck his chest with a clenched fist.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

----

The following days became some of the busiest in the kingdom’s history.

Thousands of builders arrived one after another.

Stone masons.

Builders.

Formation masters.

Entire caravans transported enormous quantities of stone, timber, enchanted metals, and construction materials from every corner of the kingdom.

Day and night, the sounds of hammers echoed across the once-desolate battlefield.

What had once been a forbidden land scarred by the clash of Tier 8 Laws gradually transformed into an enormous construction site.

Wide roads were built first.

They connected the capital directly to the dungeon.

Bridges crossed newly formed ravines.

Observation towers rose across the surrounding plains.

Military outposts secured every approach.

After that, the true centerpiece began to take shape.

Rather than leaving the dungeon exposed beneath the open sky, Alix ordered the construction of an enormous structure around the spatial gateway itself.

The building resembled a grand fortress combined with an ancient palace.

Massive black stone walls surrounded the crater.

Towering pillars supported an immense domed ceiling, protecting the dungeon entrance from the elements while preserving the unstable spatial crack at its center.

Formation arrays were engraved throughout every wall to stabilize the surrounding space.

Dozens of entrances allowed adventurers to enter and exit efficiently.

Nearby, additional districts quickly emerged.

Merchant streets.

Equipment shops.

Medical halls.

Auction houses.

Storage warehouses.

Training facilities.

Restaurants.

Inns capable of housing thousands of visitors.

The barren battlefield slowly transformed into a thriving settlement.

One month later... The project was finally completed.

The once-forbidden battlefield had become the Dungeon Hall of Noctaris.

At its center, the spatial crack floated quietly beneath the enormous dome like an ancient doorway connecting two worlds.

Today...

It was finally opening to the public.

-----

From the very early hours of the morning, countless people had already gathered outside the massive building.

Long lines stretched across the newly constructed plaza.

Adventurers carrying swords upon their backs.

Mercenary groups wearing matching uniforms.

Independent adventurers.

Merchant caravans.

Noble representatives from cities across the conquered kingdom.

Even several renowned experts whose names were well known throughout the kingdom had personally arrived.

Everyone had heard the same rumor.

A dungeon had appeared.

A genuine dungeon.

One that contained treasures, ancient ruins, and monsters capable of producing valuable cultivation resources.

Such an opportunity was impossible to ignore.

The entire plaza buzzed with excitement.

"I heard there’s a Tier 5 artifact inside."

"My cousin said the monsters drop Qi Stones."

"They say there are ancient ruins deeper within the dungeon."

"If that’s true..."

"...this place will become famous throughout the western region."

Conversations filled the air from every direction.

Standing atop the grand staircase overlooking the plaza were soldiers of Erevaris.

----